Plan a flight · Sun 9:23 pm EDT (01:23 UTC)

Blue Grass Airport to Rapid City Regional LEX → RAP

907 nautical miles (1,044 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 299°, about 303° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 7 h 53 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 5-knot headwind), arriving about 3:16 am MDT (09:16 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now LEX is IFR, wind from the west (270°) at 6 knots; RAP is IFR, wind from the northeast (050°) at 8 knots. For planning, not a briefing: the legal preflight briefing comes from Flight Service (1-800-WX-BRIEF) or the FAA's own tools. Airlines fly this pair: 1 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The route the straight line, the warnings crossed, restrictions, pilot reports and the airports along the way · click a mark for its words

Green, blue, red and purple airport dots are the flying conditions reported there now (VFR, marginal VFR, IFR, low IFR); grey means no report. Red areas are SIGMETs, orange areas AIRMETs, hatched red areas temporary flight restrictions. Map tiles: OpenFreeMap, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Warnings the route crosses SIGMETs and AIRMETs whose area the line passes through or comes within 25 nm of

AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Near the route, at the departure end.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 838 to 838 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the last 0 nm of the route.

A SIGMET warns of weather hazardous to all aircraft; an AIRMET of weather that matters to small aircraft and to flying without instruments. "From 60 to 180 nm out" is measured along the route from LEX.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

B712 at 600 ft, 0 nm south, 9:06 pm EDT (01:06 UTC): overcast. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV KLEX/TM 0106/FL006/TP B712/SK OVC B006
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over KLEX
Time
01:06 UTC
Height
at 600 ft
Aircraft
B712
Sky
overcast B006
CRJ9 descending, 0 nm south, 7:43 pm EDT (23:43 UTC): overcast up to 6,200 ft; overcast above 1,800 ft. At the departure end, 0 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
LEX UA /OV LEX/TM 2343/FLDURD/TP CRJ9/SK TOPS OVC062 BASES OVC018
```
Report
a routine report filed through LEX
Where
over LEX
Time
23:43 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
tops OVC062 bases OVC018
B737 at 23,000 ft, 49 nm northeast, 7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. At the departure end, 49 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV CVG/TM 2351/FL230/TP B737/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
over CVG
Time
23:51 UTC
Height
at 23,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light
B739 climbing, 47 nm northeast, 7:31 pm EDT (23:31 UTC): overcast. 40 nm along the route, 47 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV 5 W CVG/TM 2331/FLDURC/TP B739/SK B026 OVC T036
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
5 west cvg
Time
23:31 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
B739
Sky
B026 overcast T036
A333 at 4,000 ft, 44 nm northeast, 6:44 pm EDT (22:44 UTC): overcast. 40 nm along the route, 44 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CVG UA /OV CVG270010/TM 2244/FL040/TP A333/SK B025 OVC T035
```
Report
a routine report filed through CVG
Where
10 nm west (270°) of CVG
Time
22:44 UTC
Height
at 4,000 ft
Aircraft
A333
Sky
B025 overcast T035
E170 climbing, 19 nm southwest, 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. 50 nm along the route, 19 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
SDF UA /OV SDF/TM 2226/FLDURC/TP E170/SK B022 T036
```
Report
a routine report filed through SDF
Where
over SDF
Time
22:26 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
E170
Sky
B022 T036
B38M at 23,700 ft, 11 nm southwest, 7:51 pm EDT (23:51 UTC): light turbulence. 140 nm along the route, 11 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
IND UA /OV TTH190030/TM 2351/FL237/TP B38M/TB LGT
```
Report
a routine report filed through IND
Where
30 nm south (190°) of TTH
Time
23:51 UTC
Height
at 23,700 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 20:00–03:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed

The westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 10 forecast points nearest it (LOU, IND, SPI, BRL, DSM, OMA, FSD, ONL, PIR, RAP). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
4,500 ft	230° at 11 kt	+5 kt	16 °C	115 kt	7 h 53 min	3:16 am MDT (09:16 UTC)
6,500 ft	260° at 12 kt	+10 kt	15 °C	110 kt	8 h 15 min	3:38 am MDT (09:38 UTC)
8,500 ft	270° at 14 kt	+13 kt	12 °C	107 kt	8 h 29 min	3:52 am MDT (09:52 UTC)
10,500 ft	270° at 15 kt	+15 kt	8 °C	105 kt	8 h 38 min	4:01 am MDT (10:01 UTC)
12,500 ft	280° at 16 kt	+16 kt	4 °C	104 kt	8 h 43 min	4:06 am MDT (10:06 UTC)
14,500 ft	280° at 17 kt	+17 kt	0 °C	103 kt	8 h 48 min	4:11 am MDT (10:11 UTC)
16,500 ft	280° at 18 kt	+19 kt	-5 °C	101 kt	8 h 59 min	4:22 am MDT (10:22 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	280° at 19 kt	+20 kt	-8 °C	100 kt	9 h 04 min	4:27 am MDT (10:27 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	280° at 23 kt	+24 kt	-20 °C	96 kt	9 h 27 min	4:50 am MDT (10:50 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	290° at 31 kt	+32 kt	-34 °C	88 kt	10 h 18 min	5:41 am MDT (11:41 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	280° at 39 kt	+40 kt	-42 °C	80 kt	11 h 20 min	6:43 am MDT (12:43 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	290° at 48 kt	+49 kt	-50 °C	71 kt	12 h 46 min	8:09 am MDT (14:09 UTC)

Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 UTC; temperatures above 24,000 ft are below zero. Heights are above sea level; a height is left out when the forecast has no wind for it over most of the line (the ground is higher). Ground speed is the airspeed less the headwind; the time en route is for the straight line and ignores climb, descent and routing around weather.

The forecast points as issued

Point	From	3,000	6,000	9,000	12,000	18,000	24,000	30,000	34,000	39,000
LOU	used from 0 nm out; 28 nm from the line	320/15	340/24 14°	330/28 9°	340/34 4°	340/37 -9°	340/42 -20°	320/39 -35°	320/45 -39°	330/40 -47°
IND	used from 100 nm out; 51 nm from the line	320/10	350/30 16°	350/32 10°	350/30 4°	340/31 -10°	340/42 -21°	340/49 -37°	320/46 -41°	320/47 -47°
SPI	used from 199 nm out; 38 nm from the line	210/13	260/11 17°	270/18 10°	290/21 4°	310/20 -8°	330/25 -19°	320/49 -34°	320/60 -44°	320/59 -50°
BRL	used from 299 nm out; 22 nm from the line	200/20	250/21 16°	240/22 10°	260/20 5°	270/16 -7°	290/22 -18°	320/41 -34°	320/56 -43°	310/68 -53°
DSM	used from 399 nm out; 43 nm from the line	200/32	240/27 17°	260/19 10°	260/16 5°	260/19 -7°	240/22 -19°	270/20 -32°	270/38 -42°	290/58 -53°
OMA	used from 548 nm out; 53 nm from the line	190/34	230/34 19°	250/25 12°	250/18 6°	250/22 -7°	250/28 -19°	260/34 -32°	260/39 -41°	280/56 -51°
FSD	used from 598 nm out; 66 nm from the line	200/16	220/20 17°	240/26 13°	230/19 6°	240/25 -9°	240/28 -20°	250/39 -33°	250/44 -43°	260/63 -52°
ONL	used from 648 nm out; 37 nm from the line		200/20 17°	230/26 14°	240/21 7°	250/27 -9°	260/32 -19°	240/44 -34°	240/56 -41°	250/62 -51°
PIR	used from 748 nm out; 63 nm from the line		L/V 17°	230/13 12°	220/22 6°	250/31 -9°	250/34 -21°	240/50 -35°	230/61 -43°	240/62 -51°
RAP	used from 848 nm out; 35 nm from the line		120/15 12°	180/22 11°	220/26 5°	230/35 -9°	240/40 -22°	240/50 -37°	240/51 -41°	240/47 -47°

The weather now: both ends and the airports along the way public airports with a weather report within 25 nm of the line, one for each stretch

Airport	Where	Conditions	Wind	Visibility	Ceiling	Elevation	Reported
LEX Lexington, KY	departure	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 800 feet, overcast at 1,500 feet	from the west (270°) at 6 knots	9 mi	800 ft	979 ft	8:59 pm EDT (00:59 UTC)
LOU Louisville, KY	50 nm out, 14 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	545 ft	00:53 UTC
BMG Bloomington, IN	110 nm out, 14 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	845 ft	00:53 UTC
DEC Decatur, IL	229 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	681 ft	00:54 UTC
FSW Fort Madison, IA	349 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the southeast (130°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	721 ft	01:15 UTC
OXV Knoxville, IA	439 nm out, 1 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	928 ft	01:15 UTC
DSM Des Moines, IA	469 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 20,000 feet	from the south (170°) at 10 knots	10+ mi	20,000 ft	957 ft	00:54 UTC
SUX Sioux City, IA	598 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	1,098 ft	00:52 UTC
AGZ Wagner, SD	688 nm out, 12 nm north of the line	VFR	from the northwest (320°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	1,477 ft	01:15 UTC
ICR Winner, SD	758 nm out, 8 nm north of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,600 feet	from the north-northwest (340°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	1,600 ft	2,032 ft	00:53 UTC
PHP Philip, SD	848 nm out, 19 nm north of the line	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet	from the east-northeast (060°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	1,100 ft	2,209 ft	00:55 UTC
RAP Rapid City, SD	destination	IFR Sky: a broken layer at 900 feet, overcast at 2,000 feet	from the northeast (050°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	900 ft	3,203 ft	6:52 pm MDT (00:52 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 3,203 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At RAP when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:16 am MDT (09:16 UTC)

Wind from the south-southeast at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 4 miles, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet IFR

The whole forecast for RAP

From Sun 6:00 pm MDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the east at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
From Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility 4 miles, mist, a broken layer at 800 feet
30% chance between Sun 10:00 pm MDT (04:00 UTC) and 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): light rain showers, scattered clouds at 800 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet
From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 1,500 feet, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet

The forecast for LEX, the departure

From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
From Mon 12:00 am EDT (04:00 UTC): wind from the west at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet
From Mon 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 3 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, clear skies
At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility ¼ mile, fog, overcast at 100 feet
From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at LEX 7:05 pm EDT (23:05 UTC), at RAP 6:13 pm MDT (00:13 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:42 pm MDT (00:42 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RAP is before sunrise there (7:02 am MDT (13:02 UTC)).

Each restriction opens the FAA's own page with the exact area, heights and times. Ordinary notices to air missions (closed runways, lights out) are not shown: the FAA's notice search is not open to sites like this one at this time.

Radar and forecast charts for the regions crossed government pictures, the latest each time the page loads

Radar now, the central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Sources: the Aviation Weather Center's data service (SIGMETs, AIRMETs, graphical AIRMETs, pilot reports, winds and temperatures aloft, observations and terminal forecasts), the National Weather Service radar, the Weather Prediction Center's charts, the FAA's temporary flight restriction list and shapes, and the FAA's airport file for the positions, elevations and magnetic variation. Fetched when the page is viewed and kept a few minutes. Each leg is the straight line between its two airports; airways, terrain and airspace are not considered. The airports in detail: Blue Grass Airport, Rapid City Regional.